Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1944, Page 4

Local and General

Further investigations of the fire in No. 9 level of the Blackwater quartz mine, which is still smouldering, tend to disprove the earlier theory that it was caused by the fusing of electric cables. When the men went below on Sunday, while fighting the flames, it was discovered that the electric pumps lower down were still working efficiently, showing the electrical system was intact. The fire, which apparently broke out on Saturday, is now thought to have been caused by a naked light used by one of the men igniting old timber. A quantity of timber had been placed in position to start repair work in No. 9 level, but the job had not commenced when the fire broke out.

The Secretary of the New Zealand Branch of the Empire Parliamentary Union, Mr. C. M. Bothamley, has received advice of the personnel of the delegation from the Association coming from Britain to Australia and New Zealand. They are: Sydney Ralph Etherton, W. R. D. Perkins, Reginald Purbrick, G. S. Summers, Colonel E. T. R. Wickham (all Conservaties), H. W. Uutchers (Liberal National), Major S. F. Markham (Liberal Labour) and Earl Listowell, Dr. Edith Summerskill, and Frank Collingdridge (all Labour). The delegation will arrive in Australia in May, spend five weeks there, and then come to New Zealand.—P.A.

A statement that a man called up for Air Force service had been given the option of going coalmining instead was made by an appellant before the No. 10a Armed Forces Appeal Court, at Christchurch, to-day. The appeal was by W. Thom for N. H. Campbell, glass beveller. When the Secretary, Mr. W. C. Mayson, was announcing particulars g“ the case, he said it was an appeal against Air Force service. “And industrial,” said Mr. R. P. Thompson, who appeared for appellant. “This man was given the option of going down the mines.” The Court reserved its decision. The District Manpower Officer, Mr. M. Ross, had no comment to make when the subject was referred to him at the conclusion of ;he hearing.—P.A.

“We are being held down by the neck while our : pockets are being picked,” said a member of . the North Canterbury District Committee of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at the meeting yesterday. “I knowia suit now runs to/20 quid for 10/worth of wool. I haven’t had one for a long time, and do not look like getting one.”

The .Greymouth Army Office has returned approximately 700 .303 rifles to their owners on the West Coast. These rifles were called in by the Army Department in 1941. Another 200. are on hand awaiting claimants, but some difficulty is being experienced in locating the owners. Another 100 rifles have yet to come to hand.

The Borough Traffic Inspector (Mr H. Lane) has completed the series of addresses on traffic rules to all schools in the district, with the exception of the Technical High School. Further talks will be given to the sarpe schools during the second and third terms, and it is flowed that films .will be available for the later series. ■

When two aircraft of the R.N.Z.A.F. collided during solo flying training at a South Island air station yesterday afternoon, L.A.C. Andrew Scot Downie lost his life. The pilot of the second machine was not injured. Downie was born at Ormond, near Gisborne. His mother is Mrs. R. G. Downie, of Auckland. —P.A.

A conference was held at Greymouth this afternoon between representatives of the managements of the district State mines,* the deputies and miners’ unions and the inspectorate, the latter including Messrs G. Duggan (Chief Inspector, Wellington), J. Hughes (Dunedin), C. Hunter and R. T. H. Dale. The conference was concerned with general working conditions in the mines.

Because of inability to procure buckles no dog collars are being issued, this year, by the Greymouth Borough Council. However, upon payment of the registration fees owners receive a certificate to the effect that the amount has been met. So far registrations are well below the number made up to the. same period last year, and it is intended to take action shortly against owners of unregistered animals.

Lowered by the barber which came down strongly this morning, the temperature at 9 o’clock in Greymouth was only 51 degrees—the same as at the same hour on Tuesday but a degree lower than at 9 o’clock yesterday morning. The barometer, which had been around the 1030 millibar mark for 48 hours, commenced to fall during the night, but this morning was steady at 1022.6 millibars.

On the last day for the payment of rates prior to the imposition of penalty, the sum of £9,597/12/11 was received at the Greymouth Borough Council Office. This was approximately one-quarter of the rates struck. On the second last day £4134 14/6 was collected, and on the previous day £2598 was received, but these were the only days on which the £2OOO mark was topped, though on f-ach of the last six days the total was over £lOOO.

Runanga ratepayers! For your convenience the Borough office will be open Saturday morning from 9 to 11 for the payment of rates.—Advt.

“There has been no departure from normal practice in these cases,” said the Minister of Justice (Mr. Mason) in the House of Representatives yesterday in reply to Mr. W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty), who asked if the fines imposed on the Kaiapoi freezing workers had been collected, and, if not, when the Justice Department proposed instituting the processes of the law to collect the fines. The Minister said the penalties were recoverable under a special attachment procedure. It was usual to afford a debtor a reasonable opportunity of payment before invoking this procedure. Ratepayers of Runanga: The 10% penalty will be added to all rates remaining unpaid after March 31. The office will be open Saturday morning from 9 to 11. —Advt.

The monthly meeting of the Ngahere Women’s Institute was held at the residence of Mrs J. Donaldson, junr. Mrs Donaldson presided over a good attendance. Further parcels for soldiers were despatched overseas. The monthly competition resulted: — Mrs Richardson. 1, Mrs J. Donaldson (junr.) 2, and Mrs R. Donaldshon H.C. Winners of the aggregate for the twelve months ending were: Mrs Sheehan 1, Mrs Burr 2, and Mrs 'R. Donaldson runner-up. Delegates chosen to attend the Federation Council meeting in April were Mesdames Burr and Sheehan. The motto was: The structure of life is not built on sands but on character.

The 10 per cent, penalty will be added to all Runanga Borough rates outstanding on March 31. The Borough office will be open on Saturday morning from 9 to 11.—Advt.

Good progress continues to be made with the construction of the one and a-half mile road approach to the Stockton mine by the Public Works Department, and hopes are entertained that it will be completed by the end of next month. It is understood that with a view to increasing coal production on the Coast the Department is making available quantities of heavy machinery to private companies on other fields in the Buller and Reefton districts, bulldoze ers being prominent. A promising start has been made on the construction of the new bridge over the Arawata River, on. the main south highway. Four piers will be erected, and the foundations have already been laid for two of them. In addition to the piers heavy anchor blocks will also be placed in position. All material for the. work is transported by sea to Jacksons Bay, then carried by lorry eight miles to the bridge site.

Guests at Revingtons Hotel include Mrs T. N. Keenlyside, Mr R. H. Miles, Sergt. and Mrs J. L. Harrison. F/O. L. J. McLean (Christchurch); Mr T. Birch (Wellington); Mr R. Alexander (Napier); Mr Brocklehurst (Wellington); Mrs Godfrey Hall (Hororata)' Mrs Thomas, Major H. B. Thomas (Nelson); Mr A. Smellie (Invercargill).

Vest and Pantie Sets in all wool. Vest has shaped top. Pantie elastic at waist. In creme only. W. size. 10/9 set. C. Smith Ltd.—Advt.

Your choice of Millinery can make or mar your complete Autumn attire. White’s are showing just what you require; all the very smart shapes and colourings in stock. WHITE’S CORNER, YOUR FASHION CENTRE.— Advt.

Can you add? Of course, you can! Well, add this up! The time, the trouble—the cost of soap, firing—and the greatest amount of all, the wear and tear on yourself, when you slave over a wash-tub, week in, week out, year in, year out, for what? To save 2/6 per week. Enquire about our No. 2 Thrifty Service—a service which covers 181bs flat work, washed, dried and ironed for 5/-. Weigh out 181bs of linen for yourself—it represents the average household’s fortnightly flat wash. ’Phone 136 now. Westland Laundry Ltd. Depot: 27 Albert Street. —Advt.